Topsy Turvy
Topsy Turvy was written for the C. Alan Publications Ignite Series, which features entertaining yet flexible pieces for young percussion ensembles. It is meant to conjure up all of the fun one might experience at the circus.
Medium: Percussion Ensemble (6-10+)
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Composed: 2011
Duration: 2:40
Difficulty: Grade 2
Instrumentation
Bells/Toys (may double or substitute Vibraphone or another set of Bells)
Xylophone/Toys (may double or substitute 4-octave Marimba)
Optional Vibraphone
Optional Marimba (4-octave)
Timpani (2)
Snare Drum/Woodblock (may double with Bongos)
2 Concert Toms/Suspended Cymbal (may double with Temple Blocks)
Bass Drum/Acme Whistle (may double with Low Tom)
Toys (may be played by 1 or 2 players in place of the toys in the Bells and Xylophone parts)
Toys Suggestions:
Siren Whistle, Slide Whistle, Ratchet, Duck Call, Train Whistle, Flexatone, Bird Call, Cowbells, Brake Drums, etc.
Program Notes
Topsy Turvy was written for the C. Alan Publications Ignite Series, which features entertaining yet flexible pieces for young percussion ensembles. It is meant to conjure up all of the fun one might experience at the circus.
Performance Notes
- If the Bells are doubled with Vibraphone, do not use the Optional Vibraphone part.
- If the Xylophone part is doubled with Marimba, it is fine to use the Optional Marimba part. Both parts are playable on one 4-octave instrument.
- The extra “Toys” part has been extracted from the Toys in the Bells and Xylophone parts and the Police Whistle in the Bass Drum part. Therefore, if you use an extra player or two to cover these “Toys,” do not duplicate in the other parts.
- You might even consider putting these extra “Toy” players in front of the ensemble as a fun visual effect in the performance.
